“Loud snoring, gasping for air, or periods of reduced or absent breathing during sleep are signs you may have apnea,” says Doylestown Health Sleep Center Director Les Szekely, MD, a pulmonologist. “Unfortunately, many people have no idea they are living with a condition that can lead to serious health consequences without treatment.”
Other red flags for sleep apnea include sleep disruption; daytime sleepiness and fatigue; attention, concentration, and memory problems; depression or anxiety; or waking with a headache or dry mouth.
Do You Have Sleep Apnea?
An evaluation coupled with an overnight, home sleep study is the best way to find out if you have sleep apnea. The watch-like diagnostic home sleep apnea test, WatchPAT® ONE, is less intrusive for patients and data arrives much faster, according to Dr. Szekely.How WatchPAT Works
“Worn on the wrist, the device has a sensor that slides onto your finger. This technology is convenient, accurate, and works with a smartphone app that transmits a comprehensive report directly to our Doylestown Health Sleep Center,” says Dr. Szekely.”
The device has three points of contact:
- A sensor just below the sternum (breastbone) measures snoring and body positioning.
- A watch-like device is worn on the wrist of the non-dominant hand.
- A finger probe identifies respiratory events using proprietary Peripheral Arterial Tone signal (PAT®) technology.
“Apnea happens when muscles and soft tissues in the back of your throat relax and obstruct your airway when you are asleep. The body reacts by releasing a burst of adrenaline in an effort to invoke a lighter stage of sleep and open your airways,” explains Dr. Szekely. “The finger probe can sense oxygen deprivation, increasing pulse rate and changes in tiny blood vessels that correlate with an airway obstruction,” says Dr. Szekely, noting that the WatchPAT also measures movement, positioning, snoring, time of day, and more.
After wearing the device overnight, with the push of a button, the data is auto-scored and accessible to the Doylestown Health Sleep Center within one minute. The WatchPAT® ONE is disposable, with an option to return the test in a free, postage paid package for proper disposal.
Who can benefit?
Small and easy to wear, the WatchPAT is Bluetooth-reliant and best for people who are comfortable with technology and able to download the app and follow directions. WatchPAT is not appropriate for people who have multiple medical problems or have cardiac conditions requiring an in-lab sleep study.
Treating Sleep Apnea
Treatment recommendations are specific to you and the severity of your sleep apnea. For example, for mild sleep apnea, lifestyle changes such as weight loss, quitting smoking, sleep position changes, and avoiding alcohol and medications that cause drowsiness may help. A mouthpiece or oral appliance is another option.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), the most common treatment device, has a mask that fits over your mouth and/or nose and gently blows air into your throat to help keep your airway open during sleep. For severe sleep apnea, and when other treatments have failed, surgery may be an option.
Learn more about Doylestown Health’s Sleep Center.
About Doylestown Health
Doylestown Health is a comprehensive healthcare system of inpatient, outpatient, and wellness education services connected to meet the health needs of the local and regional community. The flagship of Doylestown Health is Doylestown Hospital, a not-for-profit, community teaching hospital with 242 beds and a medical staff of more than 600 providers who deliver the highest quality care in over 50 specialties. Renowned locally, regionally, and nationally, Doylestown Hospital provides superior healthcare and offers advanced surgical procedures, innovative medical treatments, and comprehensive specialty services. Now in its 100th year of service in central Bucks County, Doylestown Hospital is proud to educate and train the next generation of physicians through its family medicine residency program. Consistently ranked among the best hospitals in Pennsylvania and distinguished in both infection prevention and patient experience, Doylestown Hospital is the only hospital in Pennsylvania to achieve 17 consecutive ‘A’ grades for patient safety from Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade. Learn more at doylestownhealth.org.
